Rail joint



Patented July 9, 1929.

DAVID B. MOISSELLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL J' OIN T.

Application filed `January 12, 1929. Serial No. $371,964.

In a patent issued to me April 26, 1927, No. l,62G,-3l9, there .is disclosed a rail joint comprising a plurality of spaced apart bars extending longitudinally of and Welded to the rails on opposite sides thereof and having between their ends laterally extending lflexible offset sections. The flexible sections are prel'erably formed by providing U-bends overlapping the joint. Four such bars on each side ot the rail are shown as preferable, tvvo extending along the web, `one over the toot and one along the crotch formed at the junction of Web and foot. j

By means of such construction, various advantages are secured. rPhepatented joint is comparatively rigid under conditions Where rigidity is necessary or desirable, yet is flexible under conditions Where flexibility is necessary or desirable, The specific advantages are enumerated in the patent and need not be herein recited.

The patented rail joint, While fully opera tive and possessing the advantages claimed for it, is open to certain objections. After a long period of use, danger of sagging at the joint is to be apprehended. Moreover, in the patented joint, the flexibility is secured with some sacrifice of the maximum rigidity that is desirable. There is also some danger of the rails getting out of alignment With lapse oi time. It is also questionable Whether the patented joint possesses the maximum desirable degree of conductivity and tensile strength.

The object of the present invention is to perfect the patented joint and obviate all the objections thereto that might be reasonably urged or that might develop after prolonged actual use.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a plan View, partly in horizontal section, of my improved rail joint applied to the approximate ends of tWo aligning rails.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a `cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

For the purpose of illustrating an application of the invention, proximate ends of tvvo side-bearing girder rails a are shown. It Will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in its application to a rail of any particular cross-section, it being applicable to rails of the T type, as Well as to rails of other contours, and even to structural' steel Work as, for example, to 'l-beams or j ilates, which are to be considered as equivalents of railway rails.

` Extending longitudinally of, and overlajiping, therails on `each side thereof, and Welded thereto, are a `plurality of `bars or rods l), c, (Z and e, which may be `of any desired cross-section but which "are preferably more or less nearly circular in crosssection. The bars, between their ends, and preferably midway between their ends, are provided With loop, yoke or offset sections j",

preferably formed by U-shaped bends in,V

and integral with, the bars.

While the number ol bars is permissively variable, I prefer to apply four bars on each side, two ol them, d, e, extending along the web; another, c, along the crotch between the foot and the web;` and another, @over the rail joint. The bars are Welded to the rail, as indicated atig. i i

`The above described structural `features characterize t-he said joint heretofore patented by me. Combined therewith, in my improved construction, a base plate Ii, which extends under the rail foot. This base plate, in its preferred for1n,has the following characteristics. It is provided, between its ends, with a downwardly extending flexible offset section. The flexible oifset is preferably produced by forming the plate With a U-bend, loop or yoke t', Which overlaps the joint between the rails. The plate 7i is of' a Width exceeding that of the foot of the rail and projects beyond the rail toot at each longitudinal edge4 thereof. The

plate 7i is substantially shorter than the bars c, (Z, and e, but its length is substantially greater than its Width. The Welding of the base plate to the rail :loot isapplied at le as indicated.

One important advantage of the improved rail joint :is that sagging at the joint between rails is insured against, regardless of lapse of time. Additional rigidity is se cured, but the necessary provision for ilexibility is maintained by the Usbend e' that spans the joint. Insurance is secured against the rails getting out of alignment. Additional conductivity and tensile strength at the joint' are also secured.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a plurality of spaced apart bars Vsite sides thereof, and a base plate extendbeneath, overlapping, and welded to, adjacent rails; the bars and the base plate having between their ends flexible offset sections spanning the space between opposing ends ot 'adjacent rails.

3. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a plurality of members extending longitudinally of, overlapping, and Weldedto, adjacent rails, said members respectively .extending along the web, over the foot, and below the Jfoot, of the rail;

said members having between Vtheir ends flexible offset sections spanning thespace between opposing ends otadjacent rails.

4. In 4'a rail' joint, the combination with the rails, of a plurality of spaced apart bars extending longitudinally of, overlapping,

and welded to, adjacent rails on opposite sides thereof, anda base plate extending beneath, overlapping, and welded to, adjacent rails and extending laterally beyond .welded to, adjacent rails on opposite sides thereof, and a base plate extending beneath, overlapping, and welded to, adjacent rails; the bars and the base plate having between their ends flexible offset sections spanning the space between opposing ends ot adjacent rails; the base plate being substantially shorter than the bars, substantially longer than its own width, and substantially wider than the feet of the rails.

6. A rail joint comprising a plurality ot bars and a base plate, all of which extend substantially parallel one to another, each of said members being provided, between its ends, with a lateral lexible offset, the oil'- sets of the several members being in substantial lateral alignment.

In testimony of which invention, lf have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 26th day of Decent ber, 1928.

DAVID B. MOISSELLE.

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